Main Entry: writerheadPronunciation: \ˈrī-tər-hed\Function: nounFirst Known Use: circa 1995
1 : a (usually) temporary state of dreamy concentration and fluctuating consciousness during which a writer feels most creative, productive, and artistic < upon waking in the morning, rolling out of bed, gently shushing one’s husband, and settling in at one’s desk: “Sssshhhh, I’m in writerhead” – Kristin Bair O’Keeffe >

Category Archives: Writing Contests

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Time to celebrate! And to do so, I’m going to give away two—yes, two—audio editions of THE ART OF FLOATING! (Yep, unabridged.)

One.

Two.

Before I tell you how to enter the contest, I have a confession to make.

Ready?

I have never listened to an audiobook. (Well, except for the fantabulous Skippyjon Jones series with my six-year-old. Skippyjon is hilarious!) But in honor of Audiobook Month, I’m going to take the opportunity to change this; I’ll be listening to an audiobook. (Suggestions?!)

Later today I’ll pick 5 winners of the galley giveaway of THE ART OF FLOATING! The response over on my Facebook author page has been terrific…lots of wonderful readers posting the titles of their current and past favorites. Although I didn’t do a precise count, it looks like Donna Tartt’s THE GOLDFINCH took the lead in current favs.

Back in July, I read Jonathan Field‘s post about heading into “maker mode,” a period of time during which he retreated from almost-constant contact with his followers in order to refuel and create new stuff & ideas. As he says here:

“I’ll have certain modest windows predefined for connecting and managing. The vast majority of my time, though, will be sacredly set aside for study, synthesis and creation. I’ll also be shifting my maker, manager and slacker blocks of time to best coincide with the natural rhythms that support each type of activity (more on this in an upcoming post).

“Time to make a more serious commitment to people and activities that not only make me smile, but also support my ability to bring my best to the world. To do more great work.”

As we head into mid-December and hurtle toward the holidays, I’m going to follow Jonathan Field’s example. For the next month or so, this blog will be pretty quiet. I’m going into maker mode.

Why?

For the past six months, I’ve been scrambling. I know, I know, we all scramble, especially those of us who are deeply passionate about something (for me, writing, helping others become better writers, exploring writerhead, etc.). But I’m scrambling so much that my left eye has a crazy twitch that makes me look like I’m winking at everyone I speak to (a sometimes embarrassing tic, depending on who I’m talking to). Believe me, it’s an unhealthy scramble.

So I’m taking some time to prioritize, consider what’s essential, prune, and yes, yes, yes, write.

I won’t disappear completely. I’ll continue to connect on Facebook and Twitter, for sure, so talk to me. And I suspect I’ll be pinning on Pinterest about my process.

#38Write—my global writing initiative—is a monthly series of online writing adventure workshops for place-passionate, culturally curious writers around the world. Each writing adventure focuses on one particular aspect of craft or the writing life (for example, writing kick-butt descriptions), and during each 38-hour adventure, writers connect with me and #38Write writers around the world via a Twitter hashtag and a group Pinterest board. Join us!

Big news!

I’m giving away one scholarship for the November #38Write writing workshop! Yep, one lucky writer or aspiring writer will get to take the workshop for free.

The workshop will take place on November 3–4, and the theme is “Habits” To learn more about the workshop, click here and here.

Folks all around the world are encouraged to enter the #38Write scholarship contest. As long as you have an Internet connection, you can take this writing workshop.

Here’s the scoop…

How to Enter

Leave a comment below telling why you’re the perfect candidate for this scholarship. Perhaps a quick story about a place or culture with which you’ve connected deeply OR a place or culture with which you’ve disconnected completely. Make a list of all the places you’ve lived or write a description of the place where you’ve lived all your life. Tell me why you’re interested in the workshop. Or… (you get the picture)

I’ll choose the winner on Wednesday, October 31. You may leave comments until then. (only one comment per person)

AND…please be sure to leave an email address OR check back on Wednesday to see if you’ve won!

Who Can Enter

You quality if:

You’ve NEVER taken a #38Write workshop before. (If you’ve EVER taken a #38Write workshop, you may not enter the contest.)

You’ve NEVER won a scholarship for a #38Write writing workshop.

You are able to write in English. (English might be your second, third, or fourth language. Perfectly fine.)

You can commit to the November 3–4 weekend.

Details, Details

You can’t transfer this scholarship to another #38Write. Nope, not for any reason…not illness, a dental appointment, a wacky travel schedule, a sick kiddo, an unexpected jail term, a Nobel Prize, etc. The winner must take the November #38Write (November 3–4).

What Are Writers Writing in #38Write?

In the July #38Write (Structure), I asked writers to define culture without using any external resources (dictionary, thesaurus, Internet, friends, etc.). Here’s what some of them wrote…

What Are Writers Saying About #38Write?

“I entered 38Write timidly and came out confident.” (Anita C., U.S.)

“And what I love the most is that the writing exercises and Pinterest board make me look at stories, people, and places from different perspectives. They make me think of the whole craft behind the beautiful words on the paper.” (Maria C., U.K.)

“…thanks to Kristin I am inspired to continue to find that voice and explore the world of written expression once again.” (Lisa T., Belgium)

“To focus, for one weekend a month, on some particular way of tackling ‘place’ has been a perfect way to hone my skills, get some inspiration, and learn from Kristin as well as the other fascinating participants.” (Jennifer L., South Korea)

Unique Aspects of #38Write

It all happens in a weekend. 38 hours.

#38Write is a global workshop, with writers in South Korea, Australia, Belgium, the U.K., China, Chile, France, and many more countries.

The workshop has a strong social media aspect. Writers in the workshop connect via both Twitter and Pinterest. (Some writers in the workshop choose some or none of the social media engagement; it’s up to each individual.)

You get solid feedback from me, an author with an MFA degree, nearly 20 years as a writing workshop instructor, and almost five years of experience as an expat in China.

How I’ll Choose the Winner

I’ll be using the highly scientific method of putting into a hat the names of all folks who comment and having my four-year-old reach in and pull a name. (Time and time again, this method has proven to be fail-safe under the most extraordinary conditions. You can depend on my four-year-old.)

Again, this will happen on Wednesday, October 31. Don’t dilly-dally.

Spread the Word

Please spread the word about the scholarship! Tweet about it. Put it on your Facebook page. Share it in your blog.

#38Write—my global writing initiative—is a monthly series of online writing adventure workshops for place-passionate, culturally curious writers around the world. Each writing adventure focuses on one particular aspect of craft or the writing life (for example, writing kick-butt descriptions), and during each 38-hour adventure, writers connect with me and #38Write writers around the world via a Twitter hashtag and a group Pinterest board. In the August workshop, we had 16 writers in 8 countries.

Big news!

I’m giving away one scholarship for the September #38Write writing workshop! Yep, one lucky writer or aspiring writer will get to take the workshop for free.

The workshop will take place on September 29–30, and the theme is “Square Peg, Round Hole?” To learn more about the workshop, click here and here.

Folks all around the world are encouraged to enter the #38Write contest.

Here’s the scoop…

How to Enter

Leave a comment below telling why you’re the perfect candidate for this scholarship. Perhaps a quick story about a place or culture with which you’ve connected deeply OR a place or culture with which you’ve disconnected completely. Make a list of all the places you’ve lived or write a description of the place where you’ve lived all your life. Tell me why you’re interested in the workshop. Or… (you get the picture)

I’ll choose the winner on Wednesday, September 26. You may leave comments until then. (only one comment per person)

AND…please be sure to leave an email address OR check back on Wednesday to see if you’ve won!

Who Can Enter

You quality if:

You’ve NEVER taken a #38Write workshop before. (If you’ve EVER taken a #38Write workshop, you may not enter the contest.)

You are able to write in English. (English might be your second, third, or fourth language. Perfectly fine.)

You can commit to the September 29–30 weekend.

Details, Details

You can’t transfer this scholarship to another #38Write. Nope, not for any reason…not illness, a dental appointment, a wacky travel schedule, a sick kiddo, an unexpected jail term, a Nobel Prize, etc. The winner must take the September #38Write (September 29–30).

What Are Writers Writing in #38Write?

In the July #38Write (Structure), I asked writers to define culture without using any external resources (dictionary, thesaurus, Internet, friends, etc.). Here’s what some of them wrote…

What Are Writers Saying About #38Write?

“I entered 38Write timidly and came out confident.” (Anita C., U.S.)

“And what I love the most is that the writing exercises and Pinterest board make me look at stories, people, and places from different perspectives. They make me think of the whole craft behind the beautiful words on the paper.” (Maria C., U.K.)

“…thanks to Kristin I am inspired to continue to find that voice and explore the world of written expression once again.” (Lisa T., Belgium)

“To focus, for one weekend a month, on some particular way of tackling ‘place’ has been a perfect way to hone my skills, get some inspiration, and learn from Kristin as well as the other fascinating participants.” (Jennifer L., South Korea)

Unique Aspects of #38Write

It all happens in a weekend.

#38Write is a marvelously global workshop, with writers in South Korea, Australia, Belgium, the U.K., China, and many more countries.

The workshop has a strong social media aspect. Writers in the workshop connect via both Twitter and Pinterest. (Some writers in the workshop choose some or none of the social media engagement; it’s up to each individual.)

You get solid feedback from me, an author with an MFA degree, nearly 20 years as a writing workshop instructor, and almost five years of experience as an expat in China.

How I’ll Choose the Winner

I’ll be using the highly scientific method of putting into a hat the names of all folks who comment and having my four-year-old reach in and pull a name. (Time and time again, this method has proven to be fail-safe under the most extraordinary conditions. You can depend on my four-year-old.)

Again, this will happen on Wednesday, September 26. Don’t dilly-dally.

Spread the Word

Please spread the word about the scholarship! Tweet about it. Put it on your Facebook page. Share it in your blog.

This is a great opportunity to try something new as a writer. Hope to see your comment below!

It’s Mojo Monday, and as always, I’ve got a little something-something to lift your creative spirits, buoy you up, help you get your mojo on, and nudge (or better yet, catapult) you into writerhead.

Last Thursday evening, I gave my first-ever Writerhead presentation at PechaKucha at River Tree Arts in Kennebunkport, Maine. It was fantabulous! (I’ll be talking about Writerhead again in a few weeks at the Pennwriters Conference in Lancaster, PA. Come on out!)

One of the things I (re-)realized during the presentation was that DOING something creative gets me into writerhead. There I was, getting into writerhead while giving a presentation about writerhead.

So for you today? Two creative opportunities for you to DO something…and the promise that DOING something will help shift you into writerhead.

“For centuries writers have used participatory experience as a lens through which to better see the world at large and as a means of exploring the self. Immersion writing encompasses Immersion Memoir (in which the writer uses participatory experience to write about the Self), Immersion Journalism (in which the writer uses the Self to write about the world), and Travel Writing (a bit of both: the writer in the world and the world in the writer). Types of immersion writing within these broad categories include: the Reenactment, the Experiment, the Quest, the Investigation, and the Infiltration.”

Welcome to Expat Sat, the culturally kooky, map nonspecific, sometimes bewildering, always fascinating intersection of expat life and writerhead. And where every Saturday, I offer tips for writing, publishing, and thriving to expat writers around the globe.

Welcome to Expat Sat, the culturally kooky, map nonspecific, sometimes bewildering, always fascinating intersection of expat life and writerhead. And where every Saturday, I offer tips for writing, publishing, and thriving to expat writers around the globe.

This is such an amazing writing opportunity for some youngster or oldster who fits the criteria. Check it out. (Please note that all information has been taken from Travel Writing Scholarship. I’m just sharing the goodness.)

DESCRIPTION:

“Do you want to be a published travel writer?

“This year we decided to shake things up a bit and instead of choosing just one country for our scholarship…we’ve decided to send you off to three different countries in Southeast Asia! Once on the ground, you’ll have the opportunity to see for yourself life beyond the banana pancake trail, and get to know Southeast Asia from the local perspectives, through the eyes of three amazing writers.

“Here’s the triple-dip deal:

“First you’ll head off to Singapore to go on assignment for five days under the mentorship of Rough Guides writer Richard Lim to review and update ‘The Rough Guide to Singapore’.

“Then you’ll fly to Bali and meet up with Stuart McDonald, founder of Travelfish, the online travel guide to Southeast Asia, before heading off on six days of cultural insight and adventure in Indonesia.

“For the last leg of the scholarship, you will be whisked off to Malaysia for a food odyssey through Kuala Lumpur and Penang with former local and cookbook author of award winning hsa*ba Burmese cookbook, Tin Cho Chaw, to explore how cuisine shapes the lives of Malaysians.”

Welcome to Writerhead Wednesday, a weekly feature in which a brilliant, charming, remarkable author answers three questions about her/his writerhead…a precious opportunity for looky-loos around the world to sneak into the creative noggins of talented writers and (ever so gently) muck about.

This week, Writerhead Wednesday is all about you.

Yes, you!

Yes, yes, you, the writer in the red shirt.

You, the writer in the tweed jacket.

And yep, you, too, sleepy writer still tromping around in your pajamas.

All about you and YOUR writerhead.

Here’s the scoop:

This week, I’m giving away a $25 Visa gift card…with the hope, intention, and understanding that the lucky winner will use it to buy necessary writer-related stuff—books, pens, paper, a shiny new stapler, one-third (one-fourth?) of a much-needed therapy session, a thumb drive, business cards, a couple of double-shot lattes, a few hours of babysitting time, a bottle of Jack, etc.

And all you have to do to win is share a little something about YOUR writerhead. Tell us what writerhead is like for you.

If you’re new to this site (welcome!) or need a refresher course on what exactly writerhead is, keep reading:

Writerhead is “a (usually) temporary state of dreamy concentration and fluctuating consciousness during which a writer is most creative, productive, and artistic.”

You know…the purest moments of creation. Those beautiful (sometimes excruciating) sh, sh, sh, ssssssshhhhhh, I’ve got to get this down moments when words are bubbling, popping, zinging, and swinging. The ones when the “real” world disappears behind a gauzy cloud (insert sucking sound here…) and the imaginative world takes on firmer lines and brighter hues.

Some writers call it “the flow” or “the zone.” Some call it “hell.” Others refer to it as “writerland.” I’ve always called it writerhead.

(“Sshshh,” I growl at my husband if he tries to talk to me in the morning before I hunker down to write. “I’m in writerhead!”)

For example, perhaps your writerhead is something like this (lucky you!):

Or maybe, on a tough day, more like this. (Don’t worry…we’ve all been there.):

So get moving…post your description of your writerhead in the comment section below. You’ve got until midnight on November 22 to do so.

Welcome to Expat Sat, the culturally kooky, map nonspecific, sometimes bewildering, always fascinating intersection of expat life and writerhead. And where every Saturday, I offer tips for writing, publishing, and thriving to expat writers around the globe.

Wow…after 10 weeks of writing prompts, it feels a little strange to be posting something else. If you’ve been writing from the prompts, awesome! (If not, what are you waiting for? Get busy! Here’s the link.)

Anyway, here are three good contests for you to enter:

The Zócalo Public Square Poetry Prize

Description: The Zócalo Public Square Poetry Prize is awarded annually to the U.S. poet whose poem best evokes a connection to place. “Place” may be interpreted by the poet as a place of historical, cultural, political or personal importance; it may be a literal, imaginary or metaphorical landscape. We are looking for one poem that offers our readers a fresh, original and meaningful take on the topic.

How to Enter: For consideration, please enter up to three poems to poetry@zocalopublicsquare.org. Include your name, address, phone and email address on each poem. Personal identification will be removed prior to judge’s review. We will accept online submissions only.

Prize: The winning poet will receive $1,000.

Deadline: Entries will be accepted between September 5, 2011 and November 5, 2011.

Judging:Zócalo Poetry Editor Stephanie Brown will be the judge. Entries will be judged based on originality of ideas, how well the poem fits the theme, and style. Judging is at the sole discretion of Zócalo Public Square. The winner will be announced in March 2012, and the winning poet will receive $1,000. The winning poem will be published on zocalopublicsquare.org.

The Kicker: This contest is only open to U.S. poets. (I assume that means U.S. poets living any where in the world so all you U.S. expats, get a move on!)

The Upside: No reading fee.

Advice: This contest is all about place. P-L-A-C-E. The very thing we expats/repats/global nomads spend so much time thinking about, talking about over glasses of wine and cups of coffee, dreaming about, obsessing about as we traverse the world, and yes, yes, yes, writing about! So get your butts in gear! Submit.

Active Travel Asia’s 2011 Writing Competition

Description: You love traveling and at least had travelled to Indochina (Vietnam – Laos – Cambodia) once in a lifetime? It must have been an interesting exploration and a sense of Indochina’s beautiful nature? So why don’t you participate in our competition “Indochina in your eyes” and get the chance to come back Indochina once again and explore the grandeur of the nature? Please feel free write about your adventures and share with us!

How to Enter: Simply email your entry of no more than 1000 words (no attachments) to event@activetravel.asia. The entries after being sent to our mail address will be reviewed to guarantee the content of entries comply with the terms and conditions of this competition.

Prize: With the highest prize: The winner can choose one of our tours for 2 persons as below:

Kayaking Halong Bay

Trekking Sapa and homestay

Mai Chau Trekking

Motorcyling the Ho Chi Minh Trail

Biking Angkor Wat

Incentive prize: To encourage the writer we will award 3 incentive prizes for those who have the amount of like ranked highest. The prize is Hanoi City Tour with the private tour guide for 2 people plus some valuable extra.

Deadline: November 20, 2011 / The competition will start from 01/09/2011 to 20/11/2011 through our networks:

10th Annual FundsforWriters Essay Contest / Theme = “Diligence”

Description: Your definition of diligence, however, might involve a personal relationship, a child, a career, a manuscript. Maybe you weathered a difficult phase in your life, and now that you’ve come out on the other side relieved yet wiser, stronger and empowered.

In this day of instant publishing versus traditional, of impatient waits for answers to query letters, the theme of Diligence seemed most appropriate. No, you don’t have to write about self-publishing versus traditional. Just make Diligence the clear, ultimate, and striking point of your nonfiction essay. (Not to exceed 750 words.)

How to Enter: Email entry to hope@fundsforwriters.com. (No fax or hard copy submissions.)

No attachments to emails. Embed in the email itself. (Viruses are nasty creatures.)

Note ENTRY FEE or NO ENTRY FEE on your submission.

Prize: A major different between FundsforWriters’ contest and other writing contests is the option of paying an entry fee. Some writers don’t believe in fees and other can’t afford them. So we offer a no entry fee category. Others, however, are willing to submit the $5 entry fee in order to vie for the higher prize purse. Take your pick.

ENTRY FEE CATEGORY – First place – $400. Second place – $100. Third place – $50.

NO ENTRY FEE CATEGORY – First place – $50. Second place – $25. Third place – $15.

Deadline: Receipt deadline Midnight (Eastern Time), October 31, 2011.

Judging: Judges are selected from Hope’s peer group of writers, authors and journalists, still pending, but the finalists are chosen by C. Hope Clark.

The Kicker: Zilch.

The Upside: Must be in English but entries accepted internationally. (Entry fees must be in US dollars.)

Advice: Write! Write! Submit! (Come on, expats, we’re some of the most diligent people out there.)